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Other Types of Mobile Food Vending

Mobile Users: Click on any of the images below to see special considerations for types of mobile food vending in Boston.

Procedure for Obtaining a Mobile Food Permit

1 | Establish a vending location. Location Information and Contacts

2 | Review and follow the Mobile Food Establishment Plan Review Form

In order to obtain a health permit from Boston Inspectional Services Department (ISD), Division of Health Inspections for Mobile Food Vehicles and Pushcarts, you must collect the following information before the inspection:

Your vending location and appropriate licenses or permits.
A letter on letterhead from a specific fixed license food establishment stating that you have permission to report twice daily to that location for all food, supplies, cleaning, and sanitizing of units and equipment, along with a current copy of their permit.
Your completed ISD Mobile Food Vehicle Application and proper documents and licenses. You can complete your ISD application at the time of your inspection, but make sure to have documents and licenses beforehand.

3 | Set up an inspection.

Inspections are normally performed between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM Monday - Friday. To set up an inspection, call or visit:

1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 4th Floor, Boston MA.
617-635-5326

Types of Vending	Vending Locations
Food Push Carts	Push carts are allowed in some public parks, in the Downtown Crossing BID area, and on private property with proper permitting.
Canteen Trucks	You can establish a vending location by checking with: The Department of Conservation and Recreation (State) The Parks Department (City) Any open construction sites. (the truck must be pulled up on the construction site in order to vend legally)
Ice Cream Trucks	Ice cream truck operating locations are regulated by the Boston Police Department, Rule 401. Rule 401 (Full Text)

Special Considerations

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Food Push Carts

Definition: Push carts are not motorized and are limited in the types of food they sell. They can sell chicken kabobs, salads, falafel, burritos, etc. if they have handwashing facilities, otherwise they are limited to serving non-potentially hazardous foods such as coffee, cupcakes, or hot dogs.

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Serving Potentially-Hazardous Foods: If you plan to serve potentially-hazardous foods (chicken kabobs, salads, falafel, burritos, etc.), you must have handwashing facilities, as well as the ability to comply with time-temperature safety regulations. You are also required to be a certified food manager and must submit proof of certification or current enrollment in an approved certification course to obtain a mobile food permit.

If you do not have handwashing facilities, you are limited to serving non-potentially hazardous foods such as coffee, cupcakes, or frankfurters (this last item requires refrigeration).

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Purchasing Food: All retail food vendors must purchase their food items or ingredients from a wholesaler.

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Open Flame or Propane: If you are using an open flame or propane, you are required to obtain a permit from the Boston Fire Department, 115 Southampton Street, Boston, MA.
617-343-3446

You must obtain Health Division approval prior to applying for a Boston Fire permit.

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Canteen Trucks

Definition: Canteen trucks are able to serve a broader selection of food because their trucks must contain hand washing facilities, mechanical refrigeration, and hot holding equipment. While some of the products they sell are also made commercially by others, other canteen trucks have grills or pizza ovens.

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Serving and Cooking of Food: All serving or cooking of food is done from outside of the truck.

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Open Flame or Propane: If you are using an open flame or propane, you are required to obtain a permit from the Boston Fire Department, 115 Southampton Street, Boston, MA.
617-343-3446

You must obtain Health Division approval prior to applying for a Boston Fire permit.

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Ice Cream Trucks

Definition: Ice cream trucks offer ice cream, soft-serve, and other frozen desserts, which are kept cold in refrigerators/freezers on the truck and distributed directly from the vehicle.

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Selling Soft Serve Ice Cream: If you sell soft serve ice cream, you are required to have handwashing facilities and a health permit from the Inspectional Services Department.

When applying for a mobile food permit, there is a $100 manufacturing fee if the product is from a soft serve machine.

Additional Resources

We understand that food-related ventures and opportunity are constantly evolving. If you are interested in starting a mobile food venture that does not fit into the above categories, please contact the Office of Food Initiatives at food@boston.gov.

Non-Food Related Mobile Vending

If you are interested in starting a mobile venture that is not food related, the Office of Food Initiatives is not the best place to start. Your first step will need to be determining where you are interested in vending. Once you have a plan for locations, please contact the Licensing/Public Services Division of the Police Department at 617-343-4425. You can also review Rule 401, which governs mobile vending in the City of Boston.

Rule 401

Food Trucks

City Departments

Info Session for New Vendors

The Office of Food Initiatives will be hosting info sessions for new vendors in February, May, August, and November in the Boston City Hall in the BRA Boardroom (9th Floor) starting at 4:00 PM. We will provide a thorough overview of the Mobile Food Truck Program and provide an opportunity for asking specific questions.

View All Info Sessions

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cityofboston.gov - Official Web Site of the City of Boston

Other Types of Mobile Food Vending

Food Push Carts

Canteen Trucks

Ice Cream Trucks

Procedure for Obtaining a Mobile Food Permit

1 | Establish a vending location. Location Information and Contacts

2 | Review and follow the Mobile Food Establishment Plan Review Form

3 | Set up an inspection.

Special Considerations

Food Push Carts

Canteen Trucks

Ice Cream Trucks

Additional Resources

Non-Food Related Mobile Vending

Food Trucks

Announcements

Related Documents